to be a little WTF about benefit cheat adverts.....

[posieparker]

It's just the bloody people look like they could do with a little extra in their pocket. I think the government should have some sort of warning like:

Whilst we accept most of our revenue is lost from corporate tax and other loopholes, the 3% represented by benefit cheats are where you will find our resources.

(please feel free to get the right statistics, I just went to sleep with that advert spinning in my mind)

I get irked by these ads too. OK all you people who are talking about "theft is theft" etc BUT do you not realsie that a huge proportion of the wealth of this country is owned by a very smallpercentage of people (don't know exact figures but someone else may). People at the "top of the tree" have all sorts of priveleges which could be deemed to be stealing from us the taxpayers, i.e the bankers and their bonuses, the company directors etc who pay for private school fees and foreign holidays and claim it out of "business expenses" and of course the fraudulent politicians and their bogus expneses claims. The REVerend person who is saying it is Govt's job to punish people who steal..........well words fail me. If that is the case can he/she please explain why politicians are not being arrested and charged with fraud for the recent debacle on expenses. I will tell you why, because they are MPs are as such are seen to be "above the law" because Parliament makes the law.

Millions of pounds of benefits of all kinds goes unclaimed every year because people don't understand their entitlement or don't understand the forms and processes for claiming this money. Nothing is said about that on TV adverts.

SO OK I will agree that people who commit benefit fraud should be punished IF there is the same law and sanctions for everyone, NOT just the people who are amongst the most disadvantaged in our society.

Phew..............feel a bit better now.

Incidentally hope this Revperson isn't really a reverend, but don't get me started on religion!

They have been reported, several times.
I'm not saying if I have or not, because someone might recognise me on here, but believe me, they are regularly reported by several people - the powers that be are simply not interested in taking them to task, I haven't a clue why!
Maybe there is more to it, and they have mental disabilities that we don't know about, but why they should have 2 cars, fantastic luxury holidays etc, and cash in hand work every week and get away with it is beyond me!

Beyond me too, but they are one family and most of us in a similar boat anre battling to get by so it saddens me when people assume that because they know someone who is fleecing the system then we must all be.We're not, many of us battle to get DLA at all (see the Sn threads).

Have only skimmed but agree that I would far rather see people who evade Tax being clobbered. I heard a thing about how someone spoke to a top bod at HMRC who said that they knew of about 10 people who were definitely evading tax in a mega way as they hadn't declared any earnings for years but were living extremely lavish lifestyles. When asked if HMRC had any plans to pursue them the answer was no. People like that have very good lawyers (and sometimes are very good lawyers) so it's expensive to prosecute.

Benefit cheats easier to nab I guess.

Plus everyone I know who is self employed evades at least a little bit of tax, some a lot. I sometimes think there is this whole different layer of society who just doesn't really bother too much with tax. It really winds me up.

well said nana nina.

I also hate the general menacing tone of several public service ads recently.

Crushing cars wtf

I can't help but think of the MPs and their expenses. You can go to prison for benefit fraud.

I would never assume that most people are cheating peachy, my MIL was in the same boat, and struggled to get a blue badge, even though she couldn't walk 2 metres unaided.
I'm just saying that when clearly some fleece the system without any action to sort it out, what trust does that put in the system in the first place? (if that makes sense!)

It does make sense but every time this comes up theres always a list of Oh I know people who... and you start to w0nder if you'rethe only one telling the truth (I know I am anot, but then theres that post below about tax evasion and self emplyed and DH does some SE work and wouldn't ever do that, perhaps we're too straight for our own good)

Yes those ads make me feel really guilty. I understand stealing is stealing but if someone on benefits makes a few quid cash in hand that's supplementing a meagre income and should be viewed as very minor. It would be a bit different if the ad portrayed people like the ones seaglass knows, deliberately wangling the system for lots of money. Instead it shows desperate people making one mistake and being pursued mercilessly - it's not nice at all. I agree it has an agenda and that is to make affluent DM-reading types feel pleased that the government is clamping down on scrounging benefit scum.

I personally have had experience of an accountant telling me not to bother declaring this and that bit of earnings because no one will ever notice. (I didn't take his advice, because it's wrong and also I am scared of being investigated though I never have been.) It's fine if you're well-off and in the establishment and officially above board - then you can get away with all sorts.

I think they should do another series of ads showing shifty -looking wealthy execs being tapped on the shoulder and told they can't get away with their dodgy tax dealings any more.

NanaNina - read my post - I said anyone who steals should be punished - from whatever strata of society. I don't live in a comunist/marxist society so am ambivalent that x % of population own y% of wealth - c'est la vie. Benefit fraud is that - claiming money fraudulently (as is expenses fraud or tax evasion) - it's wrong. Being poor is not a defence - nor is being rich an excuse for thinking you are above the law. Working on the side and not paying taxes just makes it easier for company owners to get richer as they don't have to pay the going rate and makes the benefit trap even harder to get out of.

As for unclaimed benefits it's reported each year that people don't claim - people are aware there is a welfare state - all it takes is a phone call......

Maybe I should hope you're not really a nana or called nina

TheRR people don;tclaim becuase of so many reasons- many are vulnerable people who cannot understand the system (which can be V V complicated at times), or elderly people who still feel it is shameful to claim. It doesn't just take a phone call, it takkes a lot of forms,often with professional supporet dependant on which benefit it is, and it also takes time- as Is adi we'e been waiting for a HB claim since May, becuase items have gone astray and the like.... luckily DH's se income gets paid several months in advance, if nto wewouldn't have ben able to pay for ages. Don't think I would have stolen, but can see that someonemigth if faced with a hungry child or losing their home.

yanbu...i'd never report anyone......if a system makes it easy for people to take the piss.....alot of people will do it......the majority of MPs did ..

plus i'm not doing the governments job for them....

if the government made it easier for people to TRY to work while they are out of work, ie the temp jobs or cash-in-hand cleaning, there would be no reason for normal people to lie. yes there are people who completely take the piss, but im not talking about them.
i work for a recruitment agency, and so many people turn down work, because it will affect their benefits, as they cannot afford to go without for the weeks it would take to get them reissued.

I'd never report anyone .Not when the govt has wasted so much on propping up the greedy banks and fighting stupid wars for American causes.

When I was on benefits (or meant to be but my claim had been stuffed up) I wasn't worried AT ALL about wrongs and rights. I took on a cleaning job and improved my quality of life. I didn't have time to worry about judgemental people who wouldn't know poverty if it slapped them in the face. I live in the REAL WORLD

Peachy - I apologise, it was a flippant comment about people not claiming.

I also don't actually think people are inherently bad and the majority don'set out to commit fraud. The adverts are a deterent.

There are so many myths and legends about benefits perpetuated on these boards that many people may actually be losing out on money and opportunities and that's the real pity.

That'svery true nattycake. I'dtake bits of work through the summer when DH is sometimes here if I could but cannot for that reason- we simply couldn't afford tolive whilst CA etc is resorted.

The benefits system also works against people studying (which obv. can be an impostant part of getting to back to work, esp. if llike Dh your industry is on the brink of collapse). Dh had CA when he was made redundant (we have two SN kids so one CA each), but as a student it stops, even in the cummer when he will be caring FT (he works PT but less than cut off amount).

They should be giving people legs up- extra money if you retrain (esp for a cvocational degree), thats ort of thing because a little spent now can save an awfullot long term, through lost taxes, benefits paid,and all the social issues that go with unemployment, cikness and disability.

No joined up thinking though, no ability to see that £50 spent today can save £500 tomorrow.

yes also hope you're not really a reverend as you aren't displaying many Christian values.

Not a god bother-er in ther least - waste of time and space and the cause of endless conflicts from time in memorial.....full of contradictions

Maybe you'd like to remember the Catholic church is one of the wealthiest global organisations - where are their Christian values? Oh I forgot - one of the tenets of the Christian faith is thou shalt not steal.

However religion is not the question here - it's benefit fraud advets and the op was BU - as they are a deterrent - nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide.

I have a bit of a problem with that advert as well.

To me: Person who declares themselves single and claims tons of benefits whilst living with working partner earning and contributing - not on and should be looked into.

Person on breadline with kids who does a couple of days cash in hand every now and then - I dont have a problem with that and the benefit system is such a mess they often dont have much option.

The actors in those adverts are from the 'Ugly' agency or similar.

I dont like the adverts because they present a steryotypical image of a benefit claimant.

Croydon facelift? Check
Joggers? Check
Overweight or scrawny? Check
Scruffy front garden? Check

They also seem to insist of filming them in some weird sort of half light making them look really depressing.

No you shouldnt claim benefits illegally. Its wrong.

But I cant help thinking those who get caught are the ones that get a few extra quid or are claiming until they are sure the other stuff works out IYSWIM.

Those raking it in are far to organised and dont fit the advertising company's photofit.

i know people who pretend to be single parents while claiming benefits and secretly living with their working, contributing partner!

my ex and his new partner for one!! thats a WHOLE other thread...haha

BUT i wouldnt judge anyone or grass anyone up because i have been a single mum on benefits myself and its a bloody minefield when you either return to work or move in with someone, you lose a fortune.

they make it so difficult to understand and so complicated some people darent admit their true circumstances because they don't know what will happen to them financially if they do.

and this is probably a whole other discussion too but i think its really unfair how much couples living together get penalised just for being a 2 parent family.

example: this is what i used to get as a single parent of one:

£65 a week income support
£95 a week housing benefit (all my rent was paid by this)
£25 a week council tax benefit (again, all my ctax was paid)
£45 a week child tax credit
£20 a week child benefit
£7 a week milk and fruit vouchers

thats £257 a week

what you get when you live with someone:

£45 a week tax credit
£20 a week child benefit

thats £65 a week plus you have to pay full rent and council tax.

the system is very very wrong. so is it any wonder people try and cheat??

sincity - your point about crushing cars= around here 1 in 6 aren't insured so if you are hit by one of the fuckers as my ex MIL was you dont get proper compensation. she will never walk again, needs 24 hour care and is in constant pain.

Also the rest of us are paying for the uninsured so I say crush away.

Ivy, i agree in sentiment - however, DP and I are "hard up" at the moment and simply cannot afford to pay a proper price to local compaines, as much as we would love to.

It's not the consumer that is in the wrong though - it is the large company taking the money out of the country and avioding paying tax and actually doing this on purpose to make sure that they rip of the normal consumer.

It isn't about shopping somewhere else it is about knowing that some large companies rip this country off and are greedy and act in an awful manner.

Why not advertise that these comapnies are ripping the heart and sole out from under the normal average person and stealing by avoiding the tax that they are supposed to pay.

Anyone cheating tax is stealing, cheating the benifit system is also stealing they are both bad, only one is advertised as wrong